Swimming pool



Feb. 25, 1969 A. H. STILLMAN, .IR 3,429,085

- s wlMMING PooL y Filed July 6, 1967 jrg. .57

INVENTOR. .ALBERT H. sTrLL/m/VJR,

TTORNB Y United States Patent O 3,429,085 SWIMMING POOL Albert H.Stillman, Jr., Nesconset, N.Y., assigner to Pal Pools, Inc., SuffolkCounty, N.Y. Filed July 6, 1967, Ser. No. 651,577 U.S. Cl. 52-169 Int.Cl. E02d 27/32; E04c 2/24; B29h 7/20 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA swimming pool formed in the ground in which the sides of the excavatedground provide a form against which a foam, such as urethane foam, maybe sprayed, the foam constituting the wall of the pool. The foam may besprayed in a first less dense layer and then in a second more denselayer. The foam may be covered with a liner such as a vinyl liner.

Background of the invention Summary of the invention It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a swimming pool which is easily andinexpensively fabricated and easily and inexpensively maintained.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a swimming poolwhich may be fabricated in virtually any shape or configuration on inecontinuous piece including extensions for steps, edging and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swimmingpool which, although durable, is nonetheless subject to extremely simpleand durable repair. Repair may be any of several procedures, includingrespraying of an affected area, patching of an affected area through theuse of adhesive secured patches, heat secured patches or solvent securedpatches, or the like.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide athermally insulative swimming pool.

It is another further object `of the present invention to provide aswimming pool having a not insubstantial degree of resiliency whichprovides a substantial safety feature.

Basically, but not by way of limitation, the present invention comprisesthe spraying against the sides of an excavated hole in the ground of arigid or semi-rigid foam such as urethane foam. The foam may be sprayedin layers with the inner layers (those farthest from the ground) beingof a higher density then the outer layers (those adjacent the ground). Aliner, such as a vinyl plastic liner, may be applied to complete theinner surface of the pool.

Brief description of the drawing In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of the swimming pool of thepresent invention shown with water therein.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view as taken across line 2-2 of FIGURE 1,but without the water.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the wall ofthe swimming pool.

ICC

Description of the preferred embodiment The swim-ming pool 10 of thepresent invention comprises an earth supported wall 12.

Wall 12 comprises a bottom or outer layer 14, an upper or inner layer 16and a surface covering 18. Outer layer 14 and inner layer 16 may both bemade or formed of the same or similar material. Surface covering 18 ispreferably a smooth waterproof material, such as vinyl, which could berenewable or replaceable.

Outer layer 14 is preferably a relatively lighter density urethane foamand inner layer 16 is preferably a relatively higher density urethanefoam, the term urethane being intended to include the polyurethanes.

Swimming pool 10 of the present invention is fabricated in the followingmanner:

An excavation in the size and shape desired for the pool is created. Thefirst or outer layer 14 is sprayed to a substantially uniform thicknessagainst the side of the excavation. The spray is continued up over theedge of the excavation to form a suitable edging. Then the second orinner layer 16 is sprayed against outer layer 14 to a uniform thickness.The rst or outer layer 14 cures in contact with the earth and the secondor inner layer 16 cures in contact with outer layer 14.

The result is a continuous one-piece pool wall 12 of great integrity andstrength. The earth defining the side of the excavation acts as a formfor the sprayed foam. rlf, in accordance with standard outdoor poolpractice, water is left in the pool during freezing and below freezingconditions, little if any damage will result to wall 12 as a result offrost heaves or co-eflicients of thermal expansion. Among the reasonsfor these outstanding features is the fact that the outer layer 14 bindsthe surface of the adjacent earth and also is the fact of the resiliencyof the foam material utilized.

It has been determined that a functionally superior pool results fromspraying a higher density inner layer 16 than outer layer 14. It isconceivable that the actual spraying of the foam material may proceed ina continuous process from the outer portions adjacent the earth withfoam of lesser density to the inner layer with foam of greater density.

lResistance to wear and a smoother more water resistant and dirtresistant pool surface may be obtained by lining the pool with a vinylliner, either sprayed, painted, laid in film or sheet form, or the like.A polyester resin rnay also be used.

The limitations upon the depth and shape of the excavation and pooldepends to a great extent upon the nature and composition of the ground.It may be necessary in soils to lower clay content, for example, to biasinwardly a deeper wall of the excavation. Such a construction is shownon the right side of FIGURE 2 wherein at the deep end of the pool theend wall extends vertically downward for a distance and then, to preventco1- lapse of the excavation, curves or biases inwardly.

Swimming pool 10, when constructed in accordance with the foregoing,embodies numerous advantages and features which are not attainable withconventional methods or materials. For example, wall 12 is resilient.There is far less likelihood of physical injury to a user of the poolwhether through design, such as divin-g, or from dereliction, such ashorseplay, there is substantial and abrupt contact with the wall of thepool.

Although pool 10 has great structural integrity, being without seams orother Iweak portions, it will of course require repair from time totime. Repair may be accomplished in the simplest of manners. Forexample, should a surface crack appear in wall 12 repair may be effectedby the use of a sol-vent for the foam utilized. Should a larger fissureoccur, repair rnay be effected by the use of a patch or by simplerespraying of the affected area. Surface covering 18 is easily renewedby recoatin-g. Other repairs are as easily accomplished.

While the foregoing is illustrative of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, it is clear that other embodiments and modifications may behad. For example, it may be desirable to place an intermediate memberadjacent the sides of the excavation and to spray the foam against themember. While the foam may thereby be prevented from binding the soilduring curing, the advantages may be realized. The intermediate memberconcievably could be vapor or moisture barrier. The intermediate memberconceivably could be used for local reinforcement, as to provideattachment points for accessory apparatus, or for lgeneralreinforcement, as to provide for unusual conditions. The intermediatemember conceivably could be fluid, such as an oil spray or an adhesivecoating. Also for example, the fOa-m utilized depends upon choice andcircumstances. A polyurethane foam, or the use of a plurality of foamsis not without contemplation.

What is claimed is:

1. An in-ground swimming pool, comprising:

(a) an earthen form, said earthen form excavated to a desiredconfiguration; and (b) a foam wall member, said foam wall member beingcontiguous with said earthen form, said foam wall member comprising:

(i) an outer foam layer; and (ii) an inner foam layer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1957 Strand 52-35 5/1959Brownell 52-l69 OTHER REFERENCES Frank W. Stubbs, Handbook of HeavyConstruction, -rst edition, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1959.

Pressure Concrete Publication, Newark, NJ., 1947, p. 44.

Cement Gun Company Publication, 1947, p. 41.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. RLDGILL, IR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.=R.

